Much cooler temperatures and brisk northwest winds have spread into North and Central Texas late this morning. An intensifying area of low pressure is now located just northwest of Houston. That low will continue to move northeast and exit Texas this afternoon. In its wake winds out of the north/northwest will become strong across much of the state. Some wind gusts could exceed 40 MPH. A cold front will also continue to progress south and southeast. You’ll know its arrived when temperatures fall back into the 40s and 50s. Light to locally moderate rain continues to fall in Northwest Texas, North Texas, and Northeast Texas. Wrap-around moisture from the departing low will keep rain ongoing across those regions through the early evening hours. Light rain/snow across the Texas Panhandle and West Texas should let up this afternoon. The threat for severe weather is limited to far Southeast Texas (Beaumont area) and along the coast for a few more hours. Once the surface low is east of the state the threat for severe weather in Texas will end completely. A dry slot has ended rain chances in the Houston metro and skies are starting to clear out.

By early evening the surface low should be into eastern Arkansas to western Mississippi. North/northwest winds will be gusting up to 40 MPH across much of Texas. The only exception will be the Rio Grande Valley. Don’t worry though – the front will arrive there tonight with much cooler temperatures and an end to the critical fire danger. Light rain could still be ongoing across North Texas and Northeast Texas for the evening rush hour. Its going to be a pretty gloomy day for those regions. As the temperature profile cools across Northeast Texas this evening it is possible a little snow could mix in with the rain. Surface temperatures will remain well above freezing. No accumulations or travel impacts are anticipated. All precipitation will end by about midnight in Texas.